Lines for trawl nets



Dec. 22, 1964 F. J. LUKETA 3,161,981

LINES FOR TRAWL NETS Filed Dec. 18. 1961 6 Sh eets-Sheet l INVENTOR. zen/w: a M

Dec. 22, 1964 F. .1. LUKETA 3,161,981

' LINES FOR TRAWL NETS Filed Dec. 18. 1961 INVENTOR. Few/e r/T J l 1 Dec. 22, 1964 F. J. LUKETA 3,161,931

LINES FOR TRAWL NETS Filed Dec. 18, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 22, 1964 F. J. LUKETA 3,151,931

LINES FOR TRAWL NETS Filed Dec. 18, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. FRANK t 1 0/65 7'14 Dec. 22, 1964 F. .1. LUKETA LINES FOR TRAWL. NETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 18, 1961 INVENTOR. FRANK J AIM 5m ,4 rroezv'yo" Dec. 22, 1964 F. J. LUKETA 3,161,981

LINES FOR TRAWL NETS Filed Dec. 18, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. FRANK J. 10/(501 United States Patent 3,161,981 LINES FOR TRAWL NETS Frank I. Luketa, 5567 Greenwood Ave, Seattie, Wash. Filed Dec. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 160,013 11 Gianna. (Cl. 43-9) The securement of a line to an edge of a mesh panel which is part of a trawl net, in a manner which holds the panels edge, undeformed, to the line, yet which permits ready assembly or disassembly, is a problem to which much thought has been given, as witness my Patent Nos. 3,102,357, 3,102,356 and 3,076,281 entitled Lines for Trawl Nets. This invention pertains to solutions to the same problem, and in particular to a solution wherein a hanging line, threaded through individual mesh squares along the edge of the panel, is also threaded through aligned holes formed at intervals in elements of a protective casing about a flexible but substantially inelastic core. In most cases the casing is formed of sleeves of a wear-resistant material, with collars of a different material at intervals along the line, intermediate the sleeves. The holes for reception of the hanging line are usually formed in the collars, which are secured to the core with their holes for reception of the hanging line all correctly aligned, although in a companion application, Serial No. 162,043,

led December 26, 1961, the holes are in the sleeves, and both forms are claimed herein generically. When the ends of the hanging line are releasably secured, as they would be in various ways, the mesh panel is securely held to the line, yet, if a panel is damaged it can readily be disconnected from the line, and a whole panel substituted therefor in short order, and with a minimum of effort.

The line, and its core, may be uninterrupted throughout its length, although because the net panels are of a given length, preferably the core is of a like length, end-abutting and coupled to the end of a further section, and the protective casing is also of short lengths, assembled upon the core and interspersed with the collars secured to the core. The hanging line in such cases is also formed in sections, anchored at its ends to casing elements, such a cou ier joining the sections, and threaded through individual meshes of the net panel, and through holes in the casing elements. By such a sectional construction the replacement of a damaged panel is facilitated, as only the length of hanging line associated with the damaged panel needs to be removed and replaced, after the panel has been disconnected at its ends from adjoining panels.

The arrangement is such that the edge of the panel is in no wise deformed or shortened by its securement to the line, and the net panel can hang freely, undeformed and unstressed, as is required of curtain panels in most of my net structures.

Various structural forms of couplers, lines, and of the elem nts thereof are shown, and certain thereof will be claimed herein, but this application pertains primarily to the broader idea, independent of specific structural details, whereby the net panel is hung by a hanging line to a line which is at least lightly tensioned, yet is not itself tensioned nor deformed,

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the greater part of a net incorporating this invention, with parts broken away.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of one form of the upper edge of such a net, with the curtain line shown partly in section.

FIGURES 3, 4, and are cross-sectional views at the lines indicated, in FIGURE 2, at 33, 44, and 55 respectively, illustrating details of the protective casing.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view at the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, illustrating details for anchorage of a float or the like to the line.

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of the form shown in FIGURE 2, and FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the structure of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an underside isometric view of a split sleeve anchorage for a float or the like, incorporated in the form of FIGURES 2, 7 and 8.

FIGURE 10 is an isometric view of a modified form, assembled, and partially in section, and FIGURE 11 is an exploded isometric view of the same.

FIGURE 12 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the same form, and FIGURE 13 is an isometric view of the same.

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view, at the line 14-14 of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 15 is an isometric view of the line, illustrating particularly an anchorage element suitable for use with the line of FIGURES 10 to 14, and FIGURE 16 is an exploded isometric view of the same.

FIGURE 17 is an isometric view illustrating water reacting weights used at the lower edge of a curtain net panel, to cause the lower edge of the latter to sweep the bottom, without materially stressing the net panel.

FIGURE 1 shows most of the net in the relative positions its parts would assume while dragging the bottom. A codend pursed at its after end and open to a forwardly projecting funnel $1 at its forward end, is dragged along the bottom by sweep lines 92 diverging forwardly to doors (not shown) which are dragged forwardly by towing warps (also not shown) that diverge raft from the trawler. The doors, as is usual, produce the divergence mentioned. The funnel 91 normally merges into an overhang 93 of mesh, the forward transverse edge whereof defines an upper bosom buoyed up by floats 93a; the lower bosom is supported somewhat above the bottom, to avoid its snagging, bobbins 94 rolling over the bottom being used for this purpose. Mesh curtains 95 form forward continuations of the overhang, and are hung by their upper edge from curtain lines I which are joined across the upper bosom and which diverge thence forwardly to the door. These lines are tensioned by the water drag on them and the curtains suspended from them; the sweep lines 92 assume the load of the codend and its catch. Additional floats 930 along the curtain lines buoy up these lines above the bottom, and control their disposition, and the curtains 95 merely incline aft and downwardly, weights 95a distributed along their lower edge holding this edge close to the bottom as the net is dragged forwardly, and causing the net panels to incline rearwardly and downwardly.

The present invention concerns primarily this curtain line and the connection of the net panels of the curtains or of the bosom by a hanging line to such a line. As has been indicated above the curtain line may be continuous for long distances, but since the curtains are usually formed of net panels of relatively short length, laced or otherwise joined at their ends, as at 95b, it will be found very desirable to use a sectional line of similar lengths, coupled to other lengths at the ends of each section. In this way any damaged section of curtain can be removed from the curtain and from the curtain line, or the curtain section and its line section can be removed, and the removed part or parts can be replaced with a fresh section with little expenditure of time or trouble.

FIGURES 2 to 9 disclose a simple and convenient construction to this end. The line 1 is in sections, with swaged-on heads In at the ends of each section of the core 112, for reception within recesses 21 of a two-part coupler 2 (see FIGURE 8), the two halves of which are held together by a bolt 22. If, as usually would be desirable, the several line sections should be relatively nonrotative, each head la is formed with a fiat 10 that matches a flat 2c in the coupler 2. Each coupler also has a groove a: Zn for reception of the end of a hanging line, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The line 1 throughout its entire length (with the exception of the heads in and couplers 2) is encased within a protective casing composed of sleeves or spacers 3 and interspersed collars 4, which are swaged onto the core 1b, the several elements abutting one another. In the form illustrated the sleeves 3 are of molded on or cemented on rubber-like material and are split open throughout their length to straddle the core lb, see FIGURE 3. The sleeves 3 are constructed to include one or more cavities formed to receive the mesh point portions of a point cut edge of the net panel, such cavities being shown as a gap 33 in FIGS. 3, 6 and 8, for example. Instead of this gap 30 in sleeves 3, grooves or slots 30a may be provided to receive the mesh points (see FIGURE 9). In that case the unsplit sleeves need not be cemented to the core lb. The collars 4, which are fixed upon the core by the swaging, and of neutral or of like material to the core to miminize electrolytic action, have holes 41 for reception of the hanging line, shortly to be described. All of these holes 41 and the grooves 2a are aligned, and the splits 30 lengthwise of the sleeves 3 are aligned with the holes. As a substitute for sleeves 3 where floats 93a or similar accessories must be anchored to the line 1, a split sleeve 3 is employed, which has an upstanding, transversely apertured boss 3b for anchorage of the stnap 93b to which the float 93a is secured. The sleeve 3a has a hole 30 through which the hanging line is threaded.

The hanging line is a light line, of a length corresponding to the length of the curtain section with which it is associated. It is passed through the points of successive mesh squares at the upper edge of the curtain 9S, and through the holes 41 in the collars 4 spaced at intervals along the core lb. The hanging line, passed through the mesh squares, is received within the slots 3 d or Ema of the sleeves 3. Finally, its ends are received within the grooves 2a of the couplers 2, and when the halves of the couplers are squeezed together about the heads in, the ends of the hanging lines are squeezed within the grooves 2a. The hanging line is straight throughout its length, and correctly oriented about the line 1, hence the curtain mesh is not'deformed'buthang's relaxed, and the curtain is not strained, though the curtain line may be under some ten- S1011. replaced, opening of the couplers 2 at each end releases the corresponding section of line 1, and with removal of the lacings 9511 the curtain section is free, for removal. Alternatively, slight opening of each coupler 2 releases the hanging line, and this can be withdrawn from the holes 41 in its collars and from the mesh at the upper edge of the curtain, and a new curtain panel can be installed by threading the. hanging line through the mesh squares and holes 41, and into the groovesla of the relaxed couplers 2. The ends of the hanging line should be resin or metal tipped, like the tips on a shoelace, and such tips are indidicated at 5%.

The form illustrated in FIGURES 10 to 16 is quite similar to that already described. Each head 1d is received within its individual recess 21a in the coupler, and endwise movement is impossible. Screw zlibsecures the coupler about the heads 1d.

11 the form shown in these figures collars 4a are swaged or otherwise secured at intervals onto the core 1b, and the protective casing 3d is molded in place upon the core lb and about the collars 4a, except as bosses 4b protrude from the casing 3d.

The hanging line, 5 can be threaded through aligned holes 4141 in short screws or studs 41b received in complementally threaded holes in the bosses 4b, and of course the hanging line, as before, is threaded through the squares of the intervening curtain meshes. In this manner the curtain is hung from the line 1. The ends or tips 5% of the hanging line 5, as before, can be received in holes 2b of the coupler 2, and can be clamped therein by set screws Whenever a curtain panel must be removed or or clamp screws 50a. Alternatively, the hanging line may extend uninterruptedly past several couplers 2. The anchorage for the floats 93a can be arranged at. suitable intervals along the line 1 by forming bosses 4c on certain of the collars 4a, the bosses 4c protruding upwardly through the molded-on casing 3d, as the bosses 41) protrude downwardly therefrom. The anchorage element 32 is then fitted onto the line 1 lengthwise of the casing 3d, and is held along its upper side by screws 3f threaded into the bosses is. A clevis 930 can be held to the anchorage element 3e by a bolt 3d clamping a spacer sleeve 93c, and the iioat we is secured to the clevis 930; see FIGURE 12.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a mesh panel and a line extending lengthwise of an edge of said panel, said line including a flexible but substantially inelastic core, and a protective casing therefor primarily of wear-resistant rubber-like material, said line further including collars distributed at intervals along and surrounding the core, and protruding at least to the periphery of said casing, each collar being formed with a hole offset from its axis and paralleling the line, a hanging line extended through individual mesh squares oi which the panel is formed, and through the offset holes in the successive collars, and means to secure the ends of the hanging line to the first-mentioned line, to secure the mesh panel to the same.

2. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a mesh panel and a line extending lengthwise of an edge of said panel, said line including a flexible but substantially inelastic core, and a plurality of individual casing elements distributed in end-abutting relation along said core to define a protective casing, certain of said elements being permanently attached to said line and being formed with holes directed lengthwise of the line and aligned with like holes in other such elements, a hanging line extended through individual meshes of said mesh panel and through the holes in the several elements, and means to secure the ends of the hanging line to the first-mentioned line, to secure the mesh panel to the same.

3. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a mesh panel and a line extending lengthwise oi an edge of said panel, said line including a flexible but substantially inelastic core and a protective casing therefor primarily of wear-resistant rubber-like material, said line further including collars distributed at intervals along and surrounding the core and protruding at least to the periphery of said casing, anchorage means supported at intervals along the line, and including ears protruding for securement of an accessory to the line, means for securing each anchorage means to the line, a hanging line extending lengthwise of the line and threaded through successive squares of which the mesh panel is formed, and, means for supporting said hanging line at intervals in its length from the line.

4. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a mesh panel and a a line extending lengthwise of the upper edge of said panel, said line including a iiem'ble but substantially inelastic core, and a protective casing therefor primarily of Wear-resistant rubber-like material, said line further including collars distributed at intervals along and surrounding the core, and protruding at least to the periphery of said casing, anchorage means for a fioat or thelike supported at intervals on the upper edge of the line, each said anchorage means including a base portion overlying one of said collars, and means detachably connecting said base portion to said collar, a hanging line for threading through successive squares of the mesh panel, and means on said collars for supporting said hanging line from the under side of said casing.

5. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a mesh panel having a point cut edge and a net line extending lengthwise of said point cut edge, said net line including a flexible but substantially inextensible core and a protective casing surrounding said core, said protective casing having a plurality of longitudinally spaced cavities formed therein, with the mesh point portions of said point cut edge of the net panel disposed within said cavities, and means to secure the mesh panel to the net line comprising a hanging line extending generally parallel to the net line, within the cavities formed in the protective casing, said hanging line engaging the mesh point portions of the net panel in said cavities, and means disposed at intervals lengthwise of said casing and connected to the net line, said last mentioned means being formed with holes of a size to receive the hanging line, and said hanging line extending through said holes to support the edge of the mesh panel close to the net line and in the cavity portions of the protective casing.

6. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a mesh panel and a net line extending lengthwise of an edge of said panel, said net line including a flexible but sub stantially inextensible core and a protective casing surrounding said core, said casing comprising a plurality of sleeves of wear-resistant material and a plurality of collars interspersed with said sleeves along the net line, and secured to said core, said collars having holes formed therein, and means to secure the panels edge to the net line comprising a hanging line extending parallel to the net line, through individual mesh squares of which the mesh panel is composed, and through the said holes formed in the collars, to support the panels edge close to the net line.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the sleeves and collars are of like diameter, and each sleeve is recessed lengthwise substantially in alignment with the holes in the collars, to receive the hanging line in its extent intermediate adjacent collars.

8. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a net panel and a net line extending lengthwise of an edge of said panel, said net line including a flexible but substantially inextensible core and a protective casing surrounding said core, and means securing the net panel to the net line comprising a hanging line extending generally parallel to the net line and through individual mesh squares of which the mesh panel is composed, along the panels edge, and means disposed at intervals lengthwise of said casing and formed with holes of a size to receive the hanging line when the latter is threaded through said holes, to support the panels edge close to the net line, with said core being composed of successive separate lengths, with the termini of each length adjacent termini of adjoining lengths, and the hanging line is likewise of similar separate lengths, and said combination further includes connectors engaging the adjacent termini of the core, and of the hanging line, to join each as a continuous tension member, said connectors being secure to and surrounding each terminus of the core.

9. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a mesh panel and a net line extending lengthwise of an edge of said panel, said net line including a flexible but substantially inextensible core and a protective casing surrounding said core, and means to secure the panels edge to the net line comprising a hanging line extending generally parallel to the not line and through individual mesh squares of which the mesh panel is composed, along the panels edge, said protective casing including collars secured at intervals to the core and formed with bosses protruding generally radialy therefrom, and removable studs received in said bosses, said studs having holes therein of a size to receive the hanging line, with said hanging line extending through said holes, to support the panels edge close to the net line.

10. In a trawl net or the like, the combination of a mesh panel and a net line extending lengthwise of an edge of said panel, said net line including a fiexible but substantially inextensible core and a protective casing about said core, a hanging line extending parallel to the net line, and engaging selected mesh squares of which the panel is composed, along the edge of the panel, and means distributed at intervals lengthwise of said not line for securing said hanging line, including at its ends, to said not line to secure the mesh panel to the net line, said protective casing including a plurality of sleeves of wear-resistant material disposed at intervals along the length of said casing and surrounding said core, each having at least one opening therein directed lengthwise thereof adjacent the edge of the panel, and receiving portions of the mesh squares of said edge, the hanging line also extending lengthwise within such openings and engaging the mesh squares which are received therein.

11. In a trawl net, the combination of a mesh panel, a net line extending lengthwise of an edge of said panel, a plurality of collars spaced along said net line and secured thereto, said collars having holes formed therein, and means to secure the panels edge to the net line comprising a hanging line extending parallel to the net line, through individual mesh squares of which the mesh panel is composed, and through the said holes formed in the collars, to support the panels edge close to the net line, said holes in the collars being of such a size that the hanging line is merely loosely accommodated therein and can therefore be easily removed from and inserted into said holes while the collars remain attached to the not line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,557,240 Shigaki June 19, 1951 2,716,959 Betts Sept. 6, 1955 2,894,366 Leckie July 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,175,902 France Nov. 17, 1958 

5. IN A TRAWL NET OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF A MESH PANEL HAVING A POINT CUT EDGE AND A NET LINE EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID POINT CUT EDGE, SAID NET LINE INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE BUT SUBSTANTIALLY INEXTENSIBLE CORE AND A PROTECTIVE CASING SURROUNDING SAID CORE, SAID PROTECTIVE CASING HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED CAVITIES FORMED THEREIN, WITH THE MESH POINT PORTIONS OF SAID POINT CUT EDGE OF THE NET PANEL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CAVITIES, AND MEANS TO SECURE THE MESH PANEL TO THE NET LINE COMPRISING A HANGING LINE EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE NET LINE, WITHIN THE CAVITIES FORMED IN THE PROTECTIVE CASING, SAID HANGING LINE ENGAGING THE MESH POINT PORTIONS OF THE NET PANEL IN SAID CAVITIES, AND MEANS DISPOSED AT INTERVALS LENGTHWISE OF SAID CASING AND CONNECTED TO THE NET LINE, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS BEING FORMED WITH HOLES OF A SIZE TO RECEIVE THE HANGING LINE, AND SAID HANGING LINE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOLES TO SUPPORT THE EDGE OF THE MESH PANEL CLOSE TO THE NET LINE AND IN THE CAVITY PORTIONS OF THE PROTECTIVE CASING. 